Zombie Statistics
The terrifying power of useful bad data.
Criminal Justice
Massachusetts Cop Charged With Kicking Latino Teen, Spitting on Him, Saying: 'Welcome to the White Man's World'
The officer was caught on video threatening to plant a "kilo of coke" in another teen's pocket.
Trump Takes Full Ownership of His Anti-immigrant Nativism with Latest Ad
Candidates used to let political operatives do the dirty work so they could appear above it all. Not Trump.
How often are innocent persons convicted?
In a new law review article, I try to provide a realistic estimate of the rate. I come up with tentative range of somewhere between 0.016% and 0.062% -- well below the figure of 1% to 4% that is often cited as the conventional wisdom.
Georgia Sheriff Says Registered Sex Offenders Aren't a Danger to Trick-or-Treaters, Will Humiliate Them Anyway
The sheriff's over-the-top "no trick or treat" signs might make him feel better, but they're actually harming more people than they're helping.
Calvin Bryant Was Serving a Draconian Mandatory Minimum Sentence. Now He's Free
Under Tennessee's harsh drug-free school zone laws, Bryant received a 17-year sentence for a first-time drug offense.
San Diego Police Creepily Forced Strippers to Pose for Photos. Now the City's Paying $1.5 Million.
A city ordinance let officers harass women as part of a licensing inspection process. A judge ruled it unconstitutional.
William Rehnquist Proposed to Sandra Day O'Connor When They Were in Their 20s
Their having dated in law school was well-known, but the proposal was not.
Las Vegas Cops Fatally Shoot Man Armed With Plastic Sword
The man refused to obey their orders. But his death was probably avoidable.
Libertarian Halloween Tips: Reason Roundup
Plus: Halloween Netflix recommendations and a glimpse of Trump trick-or-treating.
The DOJ Should Not Prosecute Robert Bowers
The federal case against the Pittsburgh shooter is redundant and constitutionally questionable.
Memphis Police Ordered to Stop Revisiting History by Snooping on Protesters
A decade of surveillance from the civil rights era makes a technology and social-media-fueled return.
Alleged Synagogue Shooter May Be a Monster, but He Shouldn't Be Executed
No matter how heinous the crime, the state shouldn't be in the business of killing its citizens.
Policing for Profit? California Towns Bill Residents Thousands for Nuisance Violations
Citizens of Coachella and Indio are fighting back against the private law firm that charged them for their own prosecutions.
Has There Been a Surge of Anti-Semitism Under and Because of Trump?
In short, probably not. And about that ADL study everyone is citing...
Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions
Weeds, word counts, and would-be blood donors.
Planned Parenthood and NARAL: 'We Still Believe Julie Swetnick'
Activists assert that we must believe all alleged victims-even those who lost our trust.
Claire McCaskill -- "Not One of Those Crazy Democrats"
What seems to be a real radio ad put out by the McCaskill campaign.
Virginia's Attorney General Wants To Stop Jailing People Just Because They Can't Afford Bail
The number of people being detained prior to trial has tripled over the course of three decades.
5 Things Canada Got Right When It Legalized Pot
Our northern neighbors are handling the transition from prohibition to regulation better than the U.S. in several ways.
"How Fortunate I Feel to Be an American and to Have Been Presented with the Remarkable Opportunities Available to the Citizens of Our Country"
A letter from Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Three Judges, Four Opinions, and a Debate on Auer Deference
What more could you want from a sentencing guideline decision out of a U.S. Court of Appeals?
Georgia Mayor Has Plan To Round Up Town's Sex Offenders on Halloween
Another Halloween, another unfounded freak-out over sex offenders.
Migrant Caravan Hysteria Returns
There's no evidence this caravan is full of Middle Eastern terrorists.
A Law Intended to Protect Crime Victims Is Being Used to Shield the Identities of Police Officers
The vague wording of Marsy's Laws allows law enforcement to classify themselves as "victims" after shooting suspects.
A Texas Police Officer Is Charged After Mishandling 130 Sex Crime Cases
Victims worried their cases were not being handled correctly. An investigation proved them correct.
An Ohio University Student Said She Received Death Threats. The Police Think She Sent Them Herself.
The Student Senate has no regrets, will continue to believe survivors.
Heritage Foundation's Clerkship Boot Camp
It's fine for ideological groups to try to teach their ideas, including to interested future law clerks -- but not to try to limit how the students use those ideas.
Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions
Root canals, contraband dogs, and a marijuana petition.
Alabama's Biased, Punitive, and Expensive War on Marijuana Is Ruining Lives
Black people in Alabama are more than four times as likely to be arrested for a marijuana offense, according to a new report.
Columbus Cops Want Credit for Not Killing 2 Black Boys Who Had a BB Gun
Officer Peter Casuccio lectured the kids for endangering their lives by doing something that was perfectly legal.
Don't Call 911 About Weed, Say Helpful Toronto Cops
...with a little help from "Distracted Boyfriend" guy.
California Cops Can't Hide Body Cam Footage of Police Shootings Anymore
The new laws bring us closer to the state of affairs that existed before 2006, when a state Supreme Court decision slammed the door on police accountability.
Police Charge a 12-Year-Old Rapper With Felony After Mall Confrontation Over CD Sales
The Cobb County Police Department then blamed Corey J's aunt for escalating the confrontation.
Jamaican Musician Gets 8-Year Sentence for Weed He Says He Bought Legally
Patrick Beadle was convicted on a drug trafficking charge, even though there's very little evidence he was a dealer.
No, Feds Can't Force Backpage Founders to Give Up Longtime Lawyers, Rules Judge
The ruling is a major win for Backpage founders James Larkin and Michael Lacey, as well as a strike against government overreach.
Canada Will Expedite Record Sealing for People Convicted of Marijuana Crimes That Are No Longer Crimes
The plan does not go as far as it should, but it's still better than the policies of most U.S. states with legal pot.
Federal Judge Says Tennessee Shouldn't Punish Poor Drivers for Being Poor
The state can no longer suspend poor people's driver's licenses over unpaid traffic tickets, Judge Aleta Trauger ruled.
